Johnston's lawyer Rex Butler says Levi has never made more than $10,000 a year, despite Bristol Palin's claims that he made more than $105,000 in 2009. Palin is asking that Johnston man up and pay $1,750 a month in child support for their baby Tripp, but Butler says Johnston's income is too "erratic" to manage something like this. Johnston has agreed to pay 20% of his 2009 income, but it's not clear exactly what kind of money he made in the past year.

Bristol is hopeful that Levi will obtain work in 2010. She is encouraged that he acknowledged in court his obligation to pay childsupport and that he acknowledged paying $4,400 in the last 14 months. Bristol expects to mediate a child visitation schedule with Levi that balances Tripp's need to be with his father with Levi's need to travel and seek work.

Unfortunately for Levi, it's the "seeking work" part that is proving a problem. Johnston says he only expects to make $25,000 in 2010, plus "some contingencies based on my Playgirl shoot" (the print issue of which will hit newsstands on February 22nd). And finding work in Hollywood is proving too tough for poor Levi. Quoth his lawyer:

Levi Johnston stands before this court as a 19-year-old with good hopeful for an entertainment career but the chances of increased income are as unknowable as it would be for any young person working his way into the entertainment industry: not particularly good.

While it's good that he can be so honest with himself, we have wonder why Johnston doesn't just get a regular job, seeing as the supermodel thing hasn't quite worked out the way he hoped. He can't ride the Playgirl thing forever, and unless he wants to start making videos - or reveal some talent we haven't already seen - it's going to be a bumpy road to nowhere.